EQUIPPING THE ANSF: SEIZING THE MOMENTUM OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 005012 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, S/CT, EUR/RPM NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR BREZINSKI CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016 TAGS: MASS PGOV PTER AF SUBJECT: EQUIPPING THE ANSF: SEIZING THE MOMENTUM OF SEPTEMBER 27 NAC DECISION REF: A. KABUL 4388 ¶B. USNATO 576 ¶C. KABUL 3987 Classified By: Charge Richard B. Norland; reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an Action Request, see paragraph 10. ¶2. (C/REL ISAF) Summary: The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) are at a critical point in their development and require dependable ammunition, weapons, and other equipment. The North Atlantic Council's (NAC) September 27 decision (reftel B) to help equip the Afghan National Army (ANA) provides an important opportunity to redouble our efforts to obtain donations of ammunition, weapons, and equipment for the ANSF. Rapid approval and delivery of promised or prospective donations will make an important difference in the current development of the ANSF, which faces an increasingly capable enemy. According to the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A),the following NATO allies, partners, or ISAF non-NATO contributors have expressed an interest in providing assistance to the ANSF: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Post requests Department assistance in urging potential donor governments to move quickly to provide their assistance to the ANSF, and encouraging others to consider donations. Nations should also be urged to provide transport, or funding for transport for nations who have donations but lack lift. End Summary. -------------- SUPPORTING THE ANSF -------------- ¶3. (C/REL ISAF) The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) are at a critical point in their development and require dependable ammunition, weapons, and other equipment. In the face of heavily-armed insurgents, narco-traffickers, and criminal gangs, the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police (ANP) forces face an increasingly difficult security challenge. An ANSF capable of holding its own against these threats will allow the GOA to project security into unstable rural areas, set the conditions for increased development assistance and improved governance, and reduce Afghan reliance on U.S. and other foreign forces. ISAF's Operation Medusa (reftel A) demonstrated clearly that NATO ;and ANSF forces have the will and capability to prevail against concentrations of Taliban and other anti-GOA forces when those forces choose to stand and fight. However, properly equipped ANA and ANP forces will be of increasing importance for ISAF, the international community, and the GOA as they seek to consolidate the gains of Operation Medusa and hold on to the ground that has been won. -------------- SEIZING THE MOMENTUM -------------- ¶4. (C/REL ISAF) The North Atlantic Council's (NAC) September 27 decision (reftel B) to help equip the ANA provides an important opportunity to redouble our efforts to obtain donations of weapons and equipment for the ANSF. A number of NATO members, aspirants, partners, and ISAF non-NATO contributing countries have expressed commitments or interest in contributing weapons, ammunition, other equipment, and training to the ANSF. In support of the superb work being done by USNATO and SHAPE colleagues, we believe that we should seize the momentum with targeted, persistent bilateral approaches in capitals. Rapid approval and delivery of promised or prospective equipment donations will make an important difference in the current development of the ANSF, which faces an increasingly capable enemy. ¶5. (C/REL ISAF) In this context, it is important to emphasize that the ANSF needs quality equipment -- new or nearly new -- and that donations of worn out or substandard surplus equipment to the ANSF ultimately are counterproductive. KABUL 00005012 002 OF 003 Transportation resources to deliver the donated equipment in a timely fashion, namely strategic airlift, also are vitally important. In light of the NAC decision, NATO allies, partners, and ISAF non-NATO contributors especially should be encouraged to provide transportation (or funding to same) for donated equipment, especially if they themselves do not have suitable equipment to donate. ¶6. (C/REL ISAF) We must impress upon potential donors that the need is urgent, especially for small arms and ammunition. Absent increased donor support, we will lose valuable time in our efforts to put more of an Afghan face on counter-insurgency efforts here. We will confront increasing Afghan resentment, particularly in the most affected rural areas. The political fallout would come in many forms for the G8, NATO, and our other partners. Certainly, without a steady increase in ANSF capabilities, the GOA will find it more difficult to remain in lockstep with ISAF and the international community in making the difficult decisions necessary to combat the Taliban and narco-traffickers. -------------- DONATIONS FOR TODAY AND FOR TOMORROW -------------- ¶7. (C/REL ISAF) Donations are needed for the ANSF that exist today -- the still developing ANA and ANP that use Soviet-era weapons of varying ages and qualities. Today's ANSF urgently require more, higher quality and reliable weapons, ammunition, and spare parts of types traditionally identified with former the Eastern European Bloc. These ANSF needs include AK-47 assault rifles, PKM and PRK machine guns, and the associated ammunition and spare parts. Additional needs include 82mm mortar ammunition and indirect fire sights/equipment for 82mm mortars and 122mm D30 howitzers. This list is neither exhaustive nor exclusive but seeks to illustrate some of the most urgent of the ANSF's needs. ¶8. (C/REL ISAF) The future success of the ANSF as a force capable of setting conditions for a peaceful, democratic, and economically growing Afghanistan depends upon meeting the immediate needs described above and on continued force development. Further down the road, NATO-standard weapons must be a part of the future development of ANSF. These NATO-standard weapons are more reliable and more capable. Thus, the planning for donations for the "next generation" ANSF must begin now, for shipments to begin sometime in 2007. A more capable ANSF will require NATO-standard small arms, crew-served weapons, mortars, howitzers, and the associated ammunition, training, and sustainment. Again, this list is suggestive and not exhaustive. -------------- COORDINATED EFFORT IN KABUL -------------- ¶9. (C/REL ISAF) Post is working alongside CSTC-A, ISAF, and the GOA to determine the road ahead for ANSF development and the donations process. A Donations Working Group (DWG),with members from the Embassy, CSTC-A, and ISAF has been formed and will meet weekly. The DWG will work with NATO's Training and Equipment Coordination Group (NTECG) to expedite the donations process and to ensure that NATO-coordinated donations are targeted to meet ANSF current and future needs. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Post requests Department assistance in urging potential donor governments to move quickly to provide their assistance to the ANSF. According to the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A),the following NATO allies, partners, or ISAF non-NATO contributors have expressed an interest in providing assistance to the ANSF: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Slovakia, and Slovenia. A coordinated approach in the capitals of KABUL 00005012 003 OF 003 other NATO Allies and capable partners could also spur thinking in those countries about donations and the provision of transport for donations. Details of the prospective donations follow (according to information available to CSTC-A): -- Bosnia: Pledged July 25, 2005 to donate 10,000 AK-47s for both the ANA and the ANP, as well as machine guns and ammunition worth $22 million. -- Bulgaria: Agreed October 4, 2004 to donate armor piercing tank rounds and other ammunition worth $3.9 million. CSTC-A reported July 1 that Bulgaria only needs a seven day notice to have the shipment available for pick up by a designated EUCOM transportation platform. -- Croatia: Expressed June 1 an interest in donating 1,786 AK-47s, 136 heavy machine guns, 68 pistols and assorted ammunition worth $1.6 million. According to CSTC-A, the Croatian MOD has yet to approve the donation. -- Germany: Agreed May 1 to provide $3.1 million for the construction of two border police supply points, in Helmand and Zabul provinces. Germany reportedly would transfer the funds to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which would then provide them to the U.S. Corps of Engineers to execute the construction. -- Slovakia: Offered $16.4 million June 15, 2005 for ammunition, assault rifles, and heavy machine guns. The Slovakian MOD is working on the final approval. -- Slovenia: The Minister of Defense offered 10,000 new AK-47s and 2,000,000 rounds of ammunition, worth a total of $3.5 million, during a bilateral meeting with the Secretary of Defense at the September 28 NATO Informal Defense Ministerial. NORLAND